Friction-clutch.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

J. I. DUBYEA. FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.12. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Wrweya PATENTED JUDTE 5, 1906.

J. F. DURYEA. FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

46122 2261292. fly

, part thereof, the construction being fu ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES FRANK nunY A. or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

' FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of'Letters Patent.

. Patented June 5, 1966.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES FRANK DURYEA, acitizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at S ringfield, in the county of Hampden and tate, ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inFriction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to friction-clutches, and has special referenceto clutches of that type which comprise a'seriesof-concentrically-disposed rings on the driving and the driven membersof the clutch, the peripheries of which overlap and which are pressedtogether to provide the requisite frictional con tact, the object of theinvention being to provide an improved clutch embodying this principleof construction whereby the clutch may occupy as small a space as isconsistent with the work it has to perform.

A further object of the invention is to construct the clutch in suchmanner that it ma be readily taken apart for the purpose of ad ing to orremoving the friction-rin or for the inspection of the same, a stilfurther object of the invention being to provide a single adjustingelement whereby the maximum degree of the frictional contact between therings may be regulated.

The clutch which forms the subject-matter of this application isdesigned especiall for use on motorvehicles, in which it is botdesirable and necessary to utilize all of the machinery space to thegreatest possible advantage, and this clutch has been desi ned withspecial reference to its use on vehic es of this descri tion which areequip ed with motors of high power, which not on y renders necessary' apowerful clutch construction, but which incidently renders it still morenecessary to reduce the clutch construction to its most compact form,for the reason that the machinery in high-power vehicles occupiesproportionately more of the available machinery space than in low-powervehicles. In

this connection it should be stated that there are two types of thiskind of clutch, one of which is intended to be run dry and the other ofwhich is desi ned to run in oil, the clutch forming the su ject-matterof this application being of the latter type.

Having these various objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction described in the followin specification, and clearlypointed out in t e claims formingl-a I illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in

whlch Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a clutch construction inwhich this invention is embodied, certain parts being'shown in fulllines, the plane of the section being on line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the same as viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a side elevation of' a casing for the clutch mechanism, theoperatin -lever extending through the wall thereof. ig. 4 is asectional'elevation of the same on line 4 4, Fig. 3, this figure, aswell as Fig. 4, being on a somewhat reduced scale.

In the drawin s, a indicates-the end of'the crank-shaft of t e motor orsome like driving-shaft, and b the driven shaft. On the end of thisshaft (1 is a on -shaped member 0,

provided with a hub d; w ch is keyed on the shaft a, the latter at thatpoint where the hub.

nut the shaft is turned oii to a still smaller diameter, as at f, andfitted thereon is a bushing 9, that end thereof next to the nut e beingflanged, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. This bushing bears against theshoulder h, which results from the turning down of the portion f of theshaft, and over this bushing is fitted the hub j of a second cup-shapedmember is, which is nested within the cup member 0, the closed end ofone lying in close proximity to the closed end of the other, the memberk being contained entirely within the member 0.

For the sake of conciseness the member a, with its clutch elements, mabe designated as the driving clutch-hea and the member k, with theclutch members that it carries, may be designated as the drivenclutch-head. The member is provided with a peripheral flan e m, which islocated in the plane of the c osed end thereof and constitutes theabutment against which the compression of the driving and driven clutchelements is effected.

The hub d, as stated, has a bearing on the endf of the driving-shaft aand is freely rotatable thereon, that portion of the hub contiguous tothe closed end of the Inemberk being enlarged, as at 0, which permits itto receivc the end of the hub d and the nut e, thereby providing for theclose nesting of the members is and c. The outer end of the hub issquared off, as at 79, and is fitted into a squared socket gin theendofthe driven shaft 1), in which the hub is supported in axialalinement with the driving-shaft, said hub constitutingia connectionbetween the latter and the driven shaft.

The peripheral wall of the cup member 0 is slotted, as at 1', inparallelism with its axis, the slots extending entirely through the walland nearly back to the closed end thereof.

There are, as shown in Fig. 2, four of these slots equally spaced aboutthe periphery of the cup, their function being to receive theprojections s of the friction-rings t, these rings being made of metalturned off smooth on each side. In the periphery of the cup member 7clike grooves v are milled to receive projections w 'of thefriction-rings m, which are in all respects like the rings t. In thedrawings these grooves 42 are shown as being extended through th flangem, and this may ormaynot be none, is; desired, it being merely amechanical conve ience.

The friction-rings w and t are located, respectively, on the exterior ofthe cup member 7c and on the interior of the cup member 0,

with their projections s and w in the grooves 1' and v, the rings beingdisposed alternately, so that each of the rings t lies between two ofthe rings at, both series of rings being movable in the direction oftheir axes, whereby when pressure is applied to the outside ring 7 theywill all be pressed into intimate contact one with the other to providethe desired driving connection between the members 0 and lc.

To provide for the compression of the rings, the interior surface of theperipheral wall of the cup member 7c is screw-threaded to receive a ring3, about the periphery of which are the ears 4, which extend outwardlytherefrom and beyond the ring to a point about opposite the center ofthe friction-rings. Between these cars on ins 5 are hung the levers 6,the up er ends of which are somewhat rounded an trend inwardly, as shownin Fi 1, to bear against the outermost of the rietionrings w, and theinner ends of these levers, Which are radially disposed, lie in closeroximity to a flan e 7 on a hub 8, which sli es on the hub 7', the atterbeing screw-threaded, as at 9, to receive the pinch-nut 10, which isadjusted on said hub j to limit the movement in one direction of the hubh.

Located between the inner side of the flange 7 and the closed end of thecup-shaped member k is a stiff spiral spring 12, the expansion of whichtends to slide the hub 8 toward the pinch-nut 10.

driving connection established between theshaft a and the shaft 1) whichis proportionate to the frictional resistanceof the rings t and m.

In the hub 8, preferably in a flange turned in the end thereof, asshown, an annular oove 13 is turned, within which is fitted a oose ring14, which is provided with trunnions 15, to which the ends of asemicircular fork 16 are connected, which fork is arranged to swing inbearings 18 and 19, which are represented in the drawin s merely in aconventional manner, the for being provided with trunnions 20, locatedabove the end of the fork and extending into the bearings 18 and 19. Onone of these trunnions, as shown in Fig. 2, a lever 21 is secured,whereby the fork may be oscillated in its bearings and a slidingmovement thereby be communicated to the hub 8 through the groove 13, thefunction of this lever bemg to compress the spring 12, and thus take thepressure off the friction-rings t and :c. If all the pressure on thelever 21 is removed, the expansion of the spring 12 will move the hub 8toward the pinch-nut 10, and; thus compress the rings t of the driving iclutch-head between the rings a: of the driven clutch-head, the flange mtaking all of the thrust of this compression.

By the arrangement of the nested cup members 0 and k, herein described,and the fitting of the rings 3 on the interior wall of the member is andapplying the actuatingspring of the cup in the manner described betweenthe bottom of the member is and the flange on the hub 8 the constructionis reduced to its most compact form, and yet those parts which mightrequire adjustment are easily accessible-viz., the ring 3 and the Thering 3 may be turned in or out to vary the relation'of the levers 3 tothe clutch-rings or to the flange 7 by the application thereto of aproper tool, and the pinch-nut 10 may likewise be adjusted and yet thearrangement and disposition of the parts permit the removal of the ringseasily and quickly.

full power of the spring 12 to be applied to the compression of therings at and t, and they pinch-nut 10 may then be adjusted to permit asmuch or as little of this compression effect to take place, according tothe load it is desired that the clutch device shall transmit.

With the clutch adjusted to the load it is to carry it is immaterial howquickly the clutch may be thrown into action, even with the shaft erunnin at maximum speed, for as the clutch is on fy equal to the loadafter the latter has been picked up it will of course slip when the loadexceeds this point, and picking up the load gradually as the momentum ofthe shaft (1 is overcome the driven shaft will thus start up without ajump, even though the clutch be thrown intoaction suddenly, as stated.

machin may be thoroughly lubricated, the

clutch" mechanism running in contact with the oil or partially immersedtherein. This casing is preferably made in two parts 22 and 23, boltedtogether in the plane of the axis of the shafts a, and b, and preferablyin the part 22 oppositely-located osses 23 are cast, which constitutebearings forthe trunnion's'of the fork 16. To permit the easy assemblingof the parts, the trunnions of this fork are secured in collars 25 and-26, into which collars the shafts 27 on the one side and 28 on the otherextend through the aforesaid bearings, the shaft'28 and one trunnionbeing secured in the collar 25 by set-screws,

whereby the lever 21 may effect the oscillation of the fork 16 tooperate the sliding hub 8, as described, the other trunnion turningfreely in the collar 26-and the latter turning freely on the end of theshaft 27, which may be secured in its bearings in any suitable manner,as bein screwed therein. This specificallydesc 'l md construction,however, forms no part of the invention, and any other means formounting the fork in the casing to provide for the easy assembling ofthe parts may be substituted therefor, if desired.

The clutch-casing is provided with suitable I hubs 29 and 30, throughwhich the shafts a and I) extend. t

' Any suitable device may be provided to lock the'lever 21 in a positionwhich will hold the driving and the driven clutch-head out of operativecontact one with the other. How ever, no such means have been shown inthe drawiggs, nor need any be shown, for a notch ate or some similardevice may be used for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a friction-clutch mechanism, a cu shaped driving clutch-headconnected to t e driving-shaft, and a similarly-shaped drivenvclutch-head of smaller diameter nested within it, the closed ends, ofsaid head being adj acent one to the other and endwise immovable, therebeing a flange on one of said heads, a hub on the driven head to beconnected to a driven shaft, friction-rin s located in the annular spacebetween the eads and alternatively and loosely engagin the latter, aspring contained in said drivingead,

and clutch-levers actuated by said spring to press said rings towardsaid flange; an adj usting device on the hub to limit the'expansivemovement of said spring, and a device on said hub to effect thecompression of said spring.

2. Afriction-clutch mechanism comprising a driving-shaft, a cup-shapeddrivin clutchhead secured on said shaft, the end 0% the latter extendinginto said head; a cu -shaped driven clutch-head rovided with a ong hub,the latter having a earing on the. extended end of the driving-shaft,the driven, head having a smaller diameter than the driving-head andbeing nested within it, said heads being endwise immovable and havingtheir open ends facing in the same direction; frictionrings placed sideby side in the annular space between the heads and being alternativelyand loosely connected to the Walls of the driven and driving headsrespectively, the driven head being provided with a flanged abutment forthe rings a hub slidably mounted on the hub of the driven head,clutch-levers pivotally supported to bear by one end against the rings,their opposite ends being located in position to be actuated by 'themovement of the sliding hub, and a spring located within the drivenhead, encirclin the hub thereof and bearing against said ead and againstthe said sliding hub, adjusting means to limit themovement of the latterin one direction, together with mechanism to move said sliding hubagainst the tension of the spring.

3. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising cup-shaped driving and drivenclutchheads, connected respectively with the driving and driven shafts,the driven head being of smaller diameter than the driving-head andnested within it'and provided witha hub to connect it with the drivenshaft; frictionrings alternatively and loosely engaging the interiorwallof the driving-head and the exterior wall of the driven head, anddisposed in overlapping relation in the annular space between the heads,the driven head being provided with a flange-abutment for the rings; ahub slidably mounted on the hub of the driven head, clutch-leverspivotally supported to bear by one end against the rings, their oppositeends being located in position to be actuated by the movement of saidsliding hub; a spring encircling the hub of the driven head to bearagainst the latter and against said sliding hub, adjusting means tolimit the movement of said sliding hub, together with mechanism to movethe latter against the tension of said spring.

4. In a friction-clutch mechanism, a cu shaped driving clutch-headconnected to t e driving-shaft,-and a similarly-shaped drivenclutch-head of smaller diameter nested within it, the closed ends ofsaid heads being adjacent one to the other and endwise immovable, therebein a flange on one of said heads; a hub on the riven head to beconnected to a driven shaft, friction-rings located in the annular spacebetween the heads and alternatively and loosely enga ing the latter, aspring contained in sai driven head, and clutch-levers actuated by saidspring to press said rings to- Ava-rd said flange; an adjusting deviceon the hub to limit the expanslvcmovement of said spring, and a deviceon said hub to effect the compression of said s )ring together with acasing to inclose said clutch mechanism.

5. Vin. a friction-clutch mechanism, a cu shaped driving clutch-headconnected to t e driven shaft, and a similarly-shaped driven clutch-headof smaller diameter nested within it, the closed ends of said headsbeing adj acent one to the other and endwise immovable, there being aflan e on one of said heads, a hub on the drivenliead to be connected toa driven shaft, friction-rings located in the annular space between theheads and alternatively and loosely engaging the latter, a springcontained in said driving-head, and clutchlevers actuated by said springto press said rings toward said flange an-ad usting device on the hub tolimit the expansive movementof said spring, a tight casing Within whichsaid clutch mechanism is inclosed, a device on the hub of the drivenhead to effect the com- I pression of said spring, and means extendingthrough the wall of the casing to actuate said device.

6. In a friction-clutch mechanism, a cu shaped driving clutch-headconnected to t e driving-shaft, and a similarly-shaped drivenclutch-head of smaller diameter nested within it, the closed ends ofsaid heads being adj acent one to the other and endwiseimmovable,

there being a flange on one of said heads, ahub on the driven head to beconnected to adriven shaft, friction-rings located in the annular spacebetween the heads and alternatively and loosely engaging the latter, aring screwed into the open end of the driven head, and clutch-leverspivotally supported on said ring to bear byone end against saidfrictionrings, their opposite ends extending radially shaped drivingclutch-head connected to t edriving-shaft, and a similarly-shaped drivenclutc -head of smaller diameter nested'within it, the closed ends ofsaid heads being adjacent one to the other and endwise immovable, therebleing a flange on said driven head, a hub on t e to a driven shaft, abearing for the opposite end of said hub on the driving-shaft, said hubdriven head to be connected by one end having an oil-chamber therein tolubricate-- said bearing, there'being an opening from said chamberthrough the wall of the hub; friction-rings located in the annular spacebetween the heads and alternatively and loosely engaging the latter, asecond hub slidably mounted on the hub of the driven head, a springbetween the driven head andsaid sliding head, and a nut on the hub ofthe driven head to limitthe expansivemovement of said spring; clutch'-levers pivotally supported on the driven head and arranged to beactuated by said spring to press the friction-rings together and againstthe flangeon the driven head, hub of the driven spring.

and a sliding hub on the head to compress said JAMESF'RANK DURYEA.Witnesses:

K. I. OLEMoNs, W H. OHAPIN.

